Ver esta página en: español Traducir Desactivar para: inglés Opciones ▼

How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

| Menu | Quick | Books | Share | Search | Settings |

Friedman's Story Plots

Disciplines > Storytelling > Friedman's Story Plots
Plots of fortune | Plots of character | Plots of thought | See also

Norman Friedman (1955) described a comprehensive list of story plots, based on a classification by R. S. Crane and adding considerations of success,
responsibility, attractiveness and the impact on the receiver to Crane's plots of action, of character and of thought.
Friedman notes that the main purpose of the storyline is to stimulate emotions through a sequence of cause, means, effects and end.

Plots of fortune
In plots of fortune, there is a person who is the principal character of the story (a 'protagonist'), whose circumstances or situation are changed in the story.

The Action Plot: Classic all-action sequential story.

The Pathetic Plot: Weak character loses out.
The Tragic Plot: Failure of a strong character.
The Punitive Plot: Bad guy gets just desserts.
The Sentimental Plot: Weak character wins through.
The Admiration Plot: Ordinary person wins through.

Plots of character
Plots of character involve some change in the moral character of the protagonist as they learn life's lessons and make deep decisions.

The Maturing Plot: Person goes through life transition.

The Reform Plot: Fallen person restores their position.
The Testing Plot: Noble character is tested to the extreme.
The Degeneration Plot: Attractive character falls from grace.

Plots of thought
Plots of thought have their main focus in what the protagonist of the story thinks and feels. They thus can be quite cerebral, giving much attention to the
inner world.

The Education Plot: Protagonist learns something important.

The Revelation Plot: Ignorance is abolished as truth is revealed.
The Affective Plot: Tension between thoughts and feelings.
The Disillusionment Plot: Loss of ideals and consequent effects.

See also
Friedman, N. (1955). Forms of the Plot. Journal of General Education. 8: 241-253
Crane, R. S. (1967). The Concept of the Plot. In Stevick, E. (Ed) The Theory of the Novel. . New York: The Free Press, 141-5
(Note: A copy of Friedman's essay is also in Stevick, pages 145-66)

Site Menu
| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

You can buy books here

More Kindle books:

 And the big
paperback book

Look inside

Please help and share:

21 14

Quick links

Disciplines Principles
* Argument * Principles
* Brand management
Explanations
* Change Management
* Coaching * Behaviors
* Communication * Beliefs
* Counseling * Brain stuff
* Game Design * Conditioning
* Human Resources * Coping Mechanisms
* Job-finding * Critical Theory
* Leadership * Culture
* Marketing * Decisions
* Politics * Emotions
* Propaganda * Evolution
* Rhetoric * Gender
* Negotiation * Games
* Psychoanalysis * Groups
* Sales * Habit
* Sociology * Identity
* Storytelling * Learning
* Teaching * Meaning
* Warfare * Memory
* Workplace design * Motivation
* Models
Techniques * Needs
* Assertiveness * Personality
* Body language * Power
* Change techniques * Preferences
* Closing techniques * Research
* Conversation * Relationships
* Confidence tricks * SIFT Model
* Conversion * Social Research
* Creative techniques * Stress
* General techniques * Trust
* Happiness * Values
* Hypnotism
Theories
* Interrogation
* Language * Alphabetic list
* Listening * Theory types
* Objection handling – About
* Propaganda – Guest Articles
* Problem-solving – Blog!
* Public speaking – Books
* Questioning – Changes
* Using repetition – Contact
* Resisting persuasion – Guestbook
* Self-development – Quotes
* Sequential requests – Students
* Storytelling – Webmasters
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

Con la tecnología de Traductor de Google

© Changing Works 2002-2016

Massive Content — Maximum Speed